Our History

In 2024, under the leadership of Kenta Asakura, M.S.W. '04, Ph.D., LICSW, the journal was renamed to Studies in Clinical Social Work: Transforming Practice, Education and Research  to identify ways to more accurately represent the journal's identity and vision as a leading journal of clinical social work. Despite the name change, the journal's core identity did not change. It remains focused on and committed to clinical social work and will continue its affiliation with Smith College School for Social Work. As the new title signifies, the journal focuses not only on clinical practice but also on clinical education and research from the social work community.  

In August 2020 Dean Marianne Yoshioka announced the School's five Core Principles to guide its programs and operations. Developed by a multi-constituent group of SSW resident and adjunct faculty and students, the Core Principles replaced the School's statement of commitment to anti-racism that was first authored in 1995. 

In 2018 Smith College School for Social Work celebrated 100 years of clinical excellence. As part of the celebration the film Clinical Revolution was filmed to tell the story of the School's creation. 

As part of Smith College School for Social Work's ongoing commitment to trans inclusion, a team of students and faculty were brought together in spring 2017 to gather, develop and disseminate resources about trans and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) inclusion within SSW. The project was motivated in large part by student advocacy that culminated in an open letter in the summer of 2016, and aims to increase the level of shared understanding around TGNC issues and to support a culture of investment in intersectional trans competence, in alignment with the School’s continued commitment to becoming anti-racist. The team consisted of (L to R) Rickey Thorn (student), Davey Shlasko (adjunct faculty), Rory Crath (resident faculty) Jixia Ao (student) and Noah Cochran (student).

Marianne R. M. Yoshioka became dean in 2014 and is set to retire in 2026. 

Marianne R.M. Yoshioka earned her B.A. with honors from Canada’s University of Western Ontario, her M.S.W. from the University of Michigan, and her Ph.D., Florida State University’s School of Social Work; She was a professor from 1996-2014 and then associate dean of academic affairs at New York City’s Columbia School of Social Work before becoming dean at Smith College School for Social Work in 2014. She is an active member of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Social Work and the NASW. Yoshioka's research focuses on the areas of addiction, family therapy, HIV/AIDS, family violence in Asian communities, and the design and development of culturally tailored intervention. She has received related research funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as private foundations, and has published her findings extensively in an effort to advance knowledge of and services for underrepresented communities. 

Carolyn Jacobs served as associate dean from 1998-2000 before becoming dean, a position she held through 2014. 

Carolyn Jacobs earned her B.A. from Sacramento State University, her M.S.W. from San Diego State University, and her Ph.D. from Brandeis University. She served as a group work supervisor for United Christian Centers from 1968-1969, project director of the Consumer Health Training Project and Family Planning Project for the San Diego Urban League from 1970-1973, and project director/research assistant for the Levinson Policy Institute at Brandeis University from 1975-1976. Jacobs was the assistant director of evaluation and research/research associate for the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources at Louisiana State University from 1977-1978, and assistant professor: Boston University School of Social Work from 1978-1980 before joining Smith College School for Social Work in 1980. Jacobs was ethnic specialist for the Ethnic Minority Manpower Development Grant frpom 1980-1984, an American Council on Education Fellow in Academic Administration from 1984-1985 and then became an an associate professor at Smith College School for Social Work in 1985. Jacobs held the associate dean for faculty appointments position at Smith College from 1985-1987, chaired the Research Sequence at the School for Social Work from 1987-1988 and from 1994-1997. She was also the acting chair of the Afro-American Studies Department at Smith College in the Spring 1988, director of the Clinical Research Institute at the School for Social Work from 1990-1994 before she went on to become associate dean and then dean.

Anita L. Lightburn served as dean from 1994-2000. 

Anita L. Lightburn earned her B.A. from Wheaton College, her M.S. from Columbia University School of Social Work, her M.Ed. from Teachers College at Columbia University and her Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University (Department of Family and Community Education). She held clinical positions as a caseworker, Massachusetts Division of Child Guardianship, Boston, Massachusetts, 1968-1970; supervisor, psychiatric social worker, McMahon Memorial Shelter, East Harlem, New York, New York, 1972-1973; in private practice, Adelaide, South Australia, 1980-1984; and in clinical supervision, consultation, and private practice in New York and Connecticut, 1987-1994. Lightburn's research positions include member, Research Group, Foster Home Care in Massachusetts, 1971; principal investigator, Foster Care in South Australia, South Australia, 1974; principal investigator, Child Guardianship, South Australia, 1975-1980; special research advisor, Department of Community Welfare, South Australia, 1978-1984; principal investigator, Special Needs Adoption, Project Impact, Boston, Massachusetts, 1988-1989; principal investigator, Head Start Family Support Evaluator, Hall Neighborhood House, Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1990-1994; principal investigator, Homeless and Runaway, United Council of Churches and Hall Neighborhood House, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Among her faculty positions, Lightburn was a visiting lecturer at Flinders University Medical School, Adelaide, South Australia from 1976-1978; assistant professor, Flinders University School of Social Administration, Adelaide, South Australia from 1973-1984; visiting professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work, Storrs, Connecticut from 1985-1986; adjunct professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work, Storrs, Connecticut in 1987, visiting assistant professor at Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York from 1986-1988; assistant professor, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York from 1988-1992 and associate professor, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York from 1993-1994.

Susan Donner served as associate dean from 1990-1998.

Susan Donner earned her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, her M.S.W. from Simmons College School of Social Work, and her Ph.D. Smith College School for Social Work. She was a psychiatric social worker at University Hospital, Boston University Medical Center from 1970-1978 and served as operational manager of the Social Service Department, University Hospital from 1976-1978. Donner was an instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston University from 1972-1978 and a field Instructor from 1972-1973. Donner also served as field instructor for Simmons College School of Social Work from 1974-1978. She became part-time faculty at Smith College School for Social Work in 1980, then  assistant and associate professor, co-coordinator, Plan B Program, 1981-1984; co-coordinator, field work, 1985-1986; director, field work, 1986-1994; and finally served as associate dean while maintaining a private practice in Western Massachusetts.

Ann Hartman served as dean from 1986-94. 

Ann Hartman earned her B.A. from Wellesley College, her M.S.W. from Smith College School for Social Work and her D.S.W. from Columbia University School of Social Work. Hartman spent many years as a caseworker, first for Summit County Child Welfare Board in Akron, Ohio, then the Community Service Society in New York, New York, and the Mid-Nassau Community Mental Health Center in Hicksville, New York. She served as executive director of the Southeast Nassau Guidance Center, a career teacher at Columbia University School of Social Work, and a social worker and consultant for the Family Service Association of Nassau County. She became an associate professor at Fordham University School of Social Service in 1969 then went on to become a professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work from 1974-1986 as well as the chair of Interpersonal Practice from 1974-1979. Hartman was co-founder and staff member of the Ann Arbor Center for the Family. She was project director for Project CRATT and the faculty director for the National Child Welfare Training Center. She wrote Family-Centered Social Work Process in 1983 and participated in "Career Interview: Ann Hartman, a biography of ideas: Archiving intellectual history” co-constructed with Catherine K Riessman and Karen M Staller in 2016.

Dorcas Davis Bowles served as associate dean from 1980-1990 and acting dean from 1985-86.

Dorcas Davis Bowles earned her B.S. (magna cum laude) from the Tuskegee Institute and her M.S.S. from Smith College School for Social Work. She became a social worker for the Institute for Juvenile Research in Chicago in 1960, remaining there until she took a position at the Tuskegee Institute in 1962 as the dean of women. Davis Bowles then went on to serve as a caseworker for the Chicago Child Care Society from 1964-66, program director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Center in Chicago from 1967-71, and director of the Child Development Center at the Infant Welfare Society in Chicago from 1971-72. Davis Bowls was also a consultant for the Chicago Parent Child Center and Project LEARN as well as a project advisor for St. Louis Parent Child Center. Davis Bowles joined Smith College as the director of Special Programs in 1972 and she was a Child and Family Development Research Review Committee member for the U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. She joined the School for Social Work in 1975 as an assistant and then associate professor, served as director of admission from 1978-80, and coordinator of field work in 1979 before becoming associate dean.